Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker on rollcall No. 490 I was present for all prior and subsequent votes but was off the floor on legislative business and inadvertently missed the vote. I support the underlying concept of non-intervention regarding the subject material, but also feel the amendment was excessively micromanagerial and did not accomplish mine and the sponsor's objectives. Had I been present, I would have voted ``present.''

Offered By: Mr. Johnson of Illinois

Amendment No. 31: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following new section:

Offered By: Mr. Johnson of Illinois

Amendment No. 32: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following new section:

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, my scheduled flight from Champaign, Illinois, to Washington was delayed well over an hour. As a result, I left immediately for another flight out of Indianapolis to Washington, As a result, I was unable to cast my vote for rollcall No. 455. Had I been present I would have voted ``present.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a very special occasion--the 25th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Barnes of Urbana, Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have been long time close friends of mine and I relish this opportunity to congratulate them on this important milestone in their life.

I salute this lovely couple on the 25th year of their life together and join their family in honoring them on this special occasion. May their union be an inspiration for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, July 9, 2012 I had a meeting regarding environmental matters in Champaign, Illinois. Had I been in Washington, I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 4155 the Veteran Skills to Jobs Act, H.R. 4367 to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to limit the fee disclosure requirement for an automatic teller machine to the screen of that machine, and H.R. 5892 the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012.

Again, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the above stated resolutions.

Personal Explanation

Mr. Speaker, I was present for rollcall No. 431 and 433, and was off the floor talking with constituents from Douglas and Piatt Counties, and inadvertently missed the vote. I support the fiscal savings attendant to this amendment but had concerns over its language. Therefore, if present, I would have voted ``Present.''

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday June 26, 2012 I had obligations that necessitated my attention in Philo, Illinois and missed votes on Ordering the Previous Question, H. Res. 697 the Rule providing for Consideration of H.R. 5972 and H.R. 5973, Representative Hoyer's Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348, and Representative Black's Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the Previous Question and H. Res. 697. I would have voted ``nay'' on Representative Hoyer's Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348. Finally, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on Representative Black's Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348.

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I had obligations that necessitated my attention in Champaign, Illinois and missed suspension votes on S. 684, a bill to provide for the conveyance of certain parcels of land to the town of Alta, Utah and S. 404, a bill to modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the above stated bills.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 18, 2012, I was meeting with constituents of my district on the East Steps of the Capitol building and missed rollcall 293 on the Rahall Motion to Instruct Conferees. Had I been present, I would have voted ``present'' on H.R. 4348.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 279, I was present for rollcalls 278 and 280. I was talking to constituents from Canby, Illinois, off the floor, and inadvertently missed the vote. I support reduction in worldwide nuclear armaments, but felt this amendment was excessively micromanagerial.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``present.''

Amendment No. 32 Offered by Mr. Price of Georgia

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 I had obligations that necessitated my attention in Champaign, Illinois, in my district and missed suspension votes H.R. 365--National Blue Alert, H.R. 3874--Black Hills Cemetery Act, H.R. 205--HEARTH Act of 2011.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the above stated bills.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, May 07, 2012 I had obligations that necessitated my attention in Sydney, Illinois, in my district and missed suspension votes on H. Con. Res. 105 Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall to celebrate King Kamehameha, H. Con. Res. 117 Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for National Peace Officers Memorial Service, H. Con. Res. 118 Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the DC Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the above stated resolutions.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday April 24, 2012 I had obligations that necessitated my attention in my district and missed a suspension vote on H.R. 2157, to facilitate a land exchange involving certain National Forest System lands in the Inyo National Forest. Had I been present for this vote, I would have cast an ``aye'' vote for this piece of legislation.

Again, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 2157.

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 my flights from Illinois did not arrive in Washington at their predicted time. As a result, I was unable to attend the first vote on rollcall No. 154. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on the Question of Consideration of the Resolution.